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Posted by: Andrew6 Feb 28 2009, 04:53 AM

hey guys, quick question... what would be the best way to go about learning the notes in relation to the fretboard? thanks

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Feb 28 2009, 05:20 AM

The first thing is to learn the C major scale all the way on the fretboard.
Once you've mastered that scale keep transposing them. But in that process you have to be aware of the notes that you are playing, not only just playing positions. The best way to do that is to sing while practicing this stuff and sing with the note name C D E F G A B etc etc.
Another thing is to learn the concept of diagonals, you know that in the guitar (and every stringed instrument we have the same note in different strings) so if you learn to recognice these "diagonals" where all the same note is you have a real good placement in the neck.
Of course one of the things that should help you is to learn to read traditional notation, in that way you can relate the notes in the score to the ones that are in the neck.

I've made a lesson with all this stuff for this purpose but is not uploaded yet, I think soon it's comming

Posted by: Gerardo Siere Feb 28 2009, 05:28 AM

For single notes you can start by learning the "drawings" for octave, this ay you can know three notes at the time, but I sugest you recognice them in relation with some chord structure you already know for example let´s say a C major chord on position 3rd with the barre we have from 5th do 1st string: C G C E G. If you don´t know intervals or just want the names of the notes for comping start from 6th to fourh string making chords with roots there, buy a set of 50 black cards, then write note names as randomly, mix them. then choose a string and keep all the notes in that string, take a card and press the note.
Another game, where is a B: 1string 7 fret, 2 string open, 3 string 4 freet, 5 string 2nd fret, 6 string 7th fret. (use numbers 17-20-34-52-67). Good luck.

Posted by: mattacuk Feb 28 2009, 12:35 PM

For me I purchased a fretboard trainer which uses a sit of drills for area training. It was alot of hard work but it was worth the time and money because it really ingraines the notes deep into your brain

Just another option to the many different ways of learning the fretboard

Posted by: Matt23 Feb 28 2009, 02:47 PM

http://www.tabguitarlessons.com/advanced-fretpro.htm really helped me learn the notes on the fretboard. And it's free.

Posted by: Andrew6 Feb 28 2009, 04:21 PM

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Feb 28 2009, 10:48 PM

You're welcome mate

If you have any more questions don't hesitate to post them

Posted by: sigma7 Feb 28 2009, 10:50 PM

What helps me first is knowing the cmajor scale across the low E string. Then after when learning the scales, I find pickout the root notes so i no where they lie as well

Posted by: Gerardo Siere Mar 1 2009, 12:05 AM

Another sugestions I forgot, grab 20 bucks and get a sight reading book like the ones William Leavit have written, practice with them 30 minutes a day and it is like a miracle!!! (I know it is expensive but some times books are the answer....)

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Mar 1 2009, 12:42 AM

First, you need to know diatonic scales, up and down the neck, 3-notes per string, played in one positions, then you need to play them through intervals, in different patterns, then through arpeggios. The more you practice, the more familiar you will be with fretboard, and you will also develop your ear. You must get to know the fretboard, to put it this way:)

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 1 2009, 01:43 AM

There are many methods to learn it, so it is up to you mate. I learned the notes by learning first the whole C major scale on the fretboard, and then just added those sharps and flats in between in time.

Posted by: Rated Htr Mar 1 2009, 09:59 PM

Lots of good suggestion here, I still need to work on it aswell so I also say thanks

Posted by: Andrew6 Mar 1 2009, 10:06 PM

QUOTE (Rated Htr @ Mar 1 2009, 04:59 PM)

Lots of good suggestion here, I still need to work on it aswell so I also say thanks

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 1 2009, 11:00 PM

Have you tried this website http://www.musictheory.net

If not give it a shoot it has great note and fretboard learning tools among other things (theory harmony and ear training !)

Posted by: Blister Jan 14 2013, 04:30 AM

I thought giving this thread a bump. There is a direct link to the game/exercise:

http://www.musictheory.net/exercises/fretboard

I found it helpful, hope others might also.

Posted by: DeGroot Jan 14 2013, 05:06 AM

QUOTE (Blister @ Jan 14 2013, 03:30 AM)

I thought giving this thread a bump. There is a direct link to the game/exercise:

http://www.musictheory.net/exercises/fretboard

I found it helpful, hope others might also.

Posted by: PosterBoy Jan 14 2013, 10:16 AM

I have fretboard warrior on my iphone, it's also a download for pc and i think mac

Posted by: Matt Warnock Guitar Jan 14 2013, 11:16 AM

Yeah, I like to learn the notes of the C major scale to start with, C D E F G A B C, on one string at a time. So find them only on the 6th string and play them from memory, saying the notes out loud or to yourself to help get the names down.

Then do the same thing on the 5th string, 4th string etc until you have the C major scale memorized over the entire neck on one string at a time.

After that you can work your way around the cycle to cover the sharps and flats on the fretboard as well.

So repeat those exercises with the keys

C
F
Bb
Eb
Ab
Db
F#
B
E
A
D
G

It seems like a lot of work, but you'd be surprised how quickly you get the harder keys after working one or two out in the beginning.

Try it out, might be helpful.

Posted by: Spock Jan 14 2013, 11:35 AM

Hey,

I am having the same issue, so I purchased these stickers. You can buy them online, Fret Daddy Stickers.

Figured it would get in my head sort of subconsciously.

Can't post an image in this thread but you can see the URL

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/Mzc0WDI3OQ==/$T2eC16N,!)sE9swmYlL1BQdzc)FQR!~~60_35.JPG

Posted by: PosterBoy Jan 14 2013, 11:47 AM

Beware the sticker don't just create a crutch.

I found I learnt the fretboard in two ways,

The Caged system really helped.

Breaking the fretboard down to what I already knew

I knew the open strings,5th fret, 7th fret and 12 fret because you use it to help tune the other open strings (excepting the

So I worked on remembering the ones in between.

Octaves also help if you know your E and A string.

So my way was a mix of various methods because I did purposely set out to learn them, it just happened as I learnt and grew as a guitarist. I think where I am with music theory happened the same way.

Posted by: Spock Jan 14 2013, 12:16 PM

Indeed, I see it kind of like training wheels, and I only have them on 1 guitar.

Posted by: mroberts70 Jan 14 2013, 02:34 PM

QUOTE (Blister @ Jan 13 2013, 10:30 PM)

I thought giving this thread a bump. There is a direct link to the game/exercise:

http://www.musictheory.net/exercises/fretboard

I found it helpful, hope others might also.

Posted by: wollace03 Jan 14 2013, 02:55 PM

QUOTE (Spock @ Jan 14 2013, 11:35 AM)

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jan 16 2013, 09:19 AM

I'd go the old fashioned way, any day What will happen when you take the stickers off?

QUOTE (PosterBoy @ Jan 14 2013, 10:47 AM)

Beware the sticker don't just create a crutch.

I found I learnt the fretboard in two ways,

The Caged system really helped.

Breaking the fretboard down to what I already knew

I knew the open strings,5th fret, 7th fret and 12 fret because you use it to help tune the other open strings (excepting the

So I worked on remembering the ones in between.

Octaves also help if you know your E and A string.

So my way was a mix of various methods because I did purposely set out to learn them, it just happened as I learnt and grew as a guitarist. I think where I am with music theory happened the same way.

Posted by: Blister Jan 25 2013, 02:39 PM

QUOTE (mroberts70 @ Jan 14 2013, 08:34 AM)

Bumping this thread was a good call sir!

Thanks

Posted by: The Professor Jan 25 2013, 09:06 PM

We just did a new article in the theory section of the GMC site. Check it out, will be helpful for learning the notes on the neck.

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=47441